Ten Dishes that Define Houston Dining

Recently Alison Cook asked me to pick ten dishes that define dining in Houston. That’s a tough assignment – Houston’s cuisines are incredibly varied, and there are so many great choices.

My approach focuses on the classics. I’m going for the timeless dishes that describe the dining scene in Houston – great examples of dishes that have appealed to Houstonians for years, and will continue to do so. Characteristic dishes that represent what I think of when I think of Houston cuisine. Some are from tried-and-true restaurants, some are from those who’ve raised the bar.

Is every dish the best example of the genre? That’s certainly open for discussion. Have I missed something important? Tell me in the comments.